Yarn feed mechanism for knitting machines



Sept. 16, 1952 M. ZlMlC ET AL YARN FEED MECHANISM FOR KNITTING MACHINES 4 Sheets -Sheei 1 Filed March 26 1951 is I 0V8 I Y Michael '1111'0 Avian M sk ATTORNEY JNP M. ZIMIC ET AL YARN FEED MECHANISM FOR KNITTING MACHINES 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Sept. 16, 1952 Filed March 26, 1951 clzael Zimic di' Argon jllz'skovsliy M (3% ATTORNEY Sept. 16, 1952 I M. zlMlc ET AL 2,610,493

ARN FEED MECHANISM FOR KNITTING MACHINES Filed March 26, 1951 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 4 lnueniow 'llliclzael Zimic 8' Anton llfiskovsky BY W ATTORNEY Patented Sept. 16, 1952 xnnN-FEEnMEcHANIsM Fon KNITTING MACHINES "Michael zimicpLake' Success, and Anton kovsky, Deer Park, N. Y.; said .Miskovsky assignor to-said Zimic n ncanmmreh-zs, 1951, SerialNo. 217,525

Thepresent invention relates tomeans. forfeeding yarn in knitting machines and, rhoreparticularly, to the novel addition of a yarn feeder to the "mechanism of a knitting machine .without changing or enlarging themachine Theinvention also contemplates the provision-of novel means for controlling the position of a yarnfeeder and its carrying means over a predetermined range of movement to facilitate special knitting operations or special knitting sequences.

In accordance with the invention, a yarn car rier or box having the usual yarn guide is provided with a novel cam projection. A second yarn carrier or box is also provided with a similar camprojection. Both of these carriers are mov-. able in tandem along a stationary trackway, or the like, usually provided in a knitting machine of the type generally known'as'a links and links machine. It is an important feature of the inven'-' tion that addition of a trackway or provision of a special trackway is not required to obtain benefits of the invention. Also, the yarn selector mechanism of the knitting machine need not be modified'to cooperate with the yarn carriers or boxes, each of which is provided with. the special cam of the invention, to effect selection andoperation of a desired box.

Selection of the desired. box is facilitated by a special trackway cam which is controlled by the cam of one of the boxes. The special trackway cam and the trackway stops guide the yarn selector finger of the carriage mounted portion of the yarn selector mechanism.

.The principal object of the present invention is to provide a novel yarn carrier or box which can be employed asan' additional box on the existing stationary trackway of a knitting machine without requiring. modification of the trackway.

Another object of the inventionis to provide a set of novel trackway appliances for the yarn carrier trackway of a knitting machine whereby to permit the trackway to accommodate more than one yarn carrier.

A further object. of the invention is to provide a novel cam mechanism for obtaining selective operation of a given yarn carrier or box from a plurality of boxes.

Astill further object. of the invention is to provide a novel stop for installation on the trackway of a knitting machine.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will, of course, become apparent and immediately suggest themselves to those skilled in the art to which the invention is directed from 8 Claims. (01. Git-12?) a reading of the following specification in con nection with the accompanying drawings, in

which:

Fig. 1 .is a view .in elevation of the left hand end and the right hand end of a portion of the bar of a knitting machine with the appliances of this invention .i'nplace;

.Fig. 2 is a sectional view on line 2 2 of l asvi'ewed in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 3 is a view in plan of the left hand end of Fi Fig. dis a view in plan of the right hand end ofFig. .1;

Fig. 5 .is a view in elevation of the yarn carrier or. box to the left as viewed, in Fig. 1;

Fig. 6 is a View in elevation of the right hand boxof Fig. 1;

Figs. 7, Sand 9 are sectional views, the sections being taken on lines 1-4, 8-3., and 9-9 re? spectively, of Fig. 1;

Fig. 10 is a view in'perspective'of the right hand end of the bar shown in Fig. 1 with the appliances in place; and

Fig. '11 is afragmentary elevationof the left hand box positioned at the left hand end of its travel.

The yarn feeding mechanism together with the bar carried mechanism forcontrolling and-moving it, embodying this invention, is to be employed in a knitting machine of the type, for example, known as the links and links machine which includes a needle bed or beds 1 and 8, and

a carriage ill, shown fragmentarily, which reciprocates over these beds. The carriage includes a lock or cam mechanism (not shown) for actuating the needles 9 in the bed or beds in sequence to form stitches in the yarn which is fed to the needles along with and under control of the car-' riage. Inasmuch as knitting machines of. this general type are by now well known, the mechanism of the knitting machine has been omitted for the sake of simplicity. Theknitting machine usually includes one or more trackway bars i2, four of which are indicated inFig. 2 of the drawing. These trackway bars are supported in any projections I l and it which extend longitudinally of the bar. Reference character I8 designates, in its entirety, one carrier or box for a yarn feeder I9 which serves yarn for a knitting operation.

The feeder I9 is supported from the box by a branch 29. The box I8 is or may be of usual construction with an exception to be noted. The branch 29 and the feeder I9 feeds a strand of yarn in known manner through a hole 2 I. The carriage I9 is equipped with a finger 22 which telescopes over a plunger 23. A compression spring 24 presses the finger J22 downwardly to operating position. A limit stop (not shown) sets the downward limit of movement of the finger 22. The plunger 23 has a projection 28 which is controlled by a bar member 29. The just described device is shown in detail in Patent No.

2,493,054. The box I8 is provided with an addedv projection 33 having a cam surface 34.

In accordance with the invention a second carrier or box 36 is provided which has a branch 38 and a feeder 39. A cam projection 42 on the box 36 presents a cam surface 43. The cam surface 34 and 43 cooperate in a special manner with a roller 46,01 its equivalent, which turns a rock shaft 48 to move a cam or finger guide 5| in a manner and for a purpose to be described. The cam 5| has a sloping cam surface 52.

The carrier 36, like the carrier I8, is provided with a recess 53, the top portion of which is of a shape in outline to fit over a dovetail portion of a trackway bar such as the portion I4. A mem-' ber 56 is slidably mounted on the body of the carrier I8 and it is provided with a surface which presses upwardly against the bottom of the projection I4. A flat spring 58, secured to the body of the carrier I8, presses the member 5611pwardly so that the carrier I8, whileit is slidable on the projection I4, is frictionally held in position unless it is moved positively by a yarn selecting instrumentality, a part of which, namely, the finger 22, appears on the drawing.

The degree of offset of each branch, such as 26, will be determined by the placement of the trackway bar laterally with respect to the active position of the needles. The feeders are or may be beveled at their ends in the usual manner.

Considering the right hand portion of Fig. 1, the boxes I8 and 36 are in the position shown with respect to a stopper carrying device or block 62 and the cam 5| such as the box 36 will be selected for operation by the finger 22 of carriage I6 when it is lowered by the bar 26. The previously mentioned rock shaft 45 is rotatably carried by bearing brackets 65 and 61. These bearing brackets are secured to an arm II extending from the block 62. The block 62 is clamped in the selected position on the dovetail by a thumb screw I4. The selected position of the block 62 is shown in Fig. 1. A finger I6 having a sloping cam surface I8 is pivoted near the end of the arm II. A fiat spring 79 urges the finger I6 inwardly toward the trackway bar I2. A similar finger 8| having a sloping cam surface 93 is provided on the arm II.

The left hand portion of Fig. 1 shows appliances similar to the cams I6 and BI and the cam 5|. Referring to the left hand side of Fig. 1, a block 84 is clamped to the rail by a set screw 86. This block is provided with an arm 88. The arm 88 carries a pivoted spring pressed cam 9| having a sloping cam surface 93. A cam 96 having a sloping cam surface 98 is also pivoted on the arm 88. A rock shaft I9| carries a cam I63 having a sloping cam surface I94. A roller I96, similar to the roller 46, is en- 4 gaged by the cam surface 43 or 34 in operation of the device of this invention.

The operation of the illustrative embodiment of the invention will now be described. The box I8, together with its branch 29 and feeder I9 can operate to serve yarn to the needles in the needle bed or beds. Likewise, the box 36 together with its branch carried feeder 39 is operable, when selected, to feed yarn to the needles. With the parts in the position shown at the right of Fig. 1, it..will be assumed that the carriage II] has completed its travel to the extreme right, beyond the limit of the drawing, and is returning to the left. It will also be assumed that the finger 22 is lowered to its operative position. The finger 22 encounters the sloping surface 52 of the cam 5| and is raised against the thrust of the spring 24.. The finger 22 rides along the top of the box I8 without engaging its edge II6. When the finger 22 reaches the end of the top of the box I6, it drops down to engage the edge H8 of the box 36; As the carriage It! continues to the left, it moves the box 36 by engagement of the finger 22 with the box edge '8. During this time, yarn is or may be fed to the needles. In its movement to the left, the finger 22 will push the cams I6 and BI aside. Also, the roller 46 drops to raise the cam 5|, which is not significant at this time. A tension spring 89 biases the roller 46 down and the cam 5| up.

At the end of the yarn feeding stroke toward the left, the pin 22 engages the sloping surface 93 .of the finger 9| and is raised to release the edge I I8 of the box 36. This position of the parts is shown in Fig. 11 of the drawing. The carriage continues its movement to the left to the end of its stroke without propelling the box 36. As the cam I93 is raised by the spring I29, movement of the pin 22 is permitted without interference.

On the carriage return'stroke to the right the finger 22 passes beside the cam I93 and engages the edge I28 of the box 36 to return it to the right. The box is released when the pin 22 rides up upon engagement with the sloping surface I8.

The box 36 is thus left in its original position.

The cam surface 43 raises the roller and lowers the cam 5|. The carriage It continues to the right to the end of its stroke and returns to again operate the box 36. This is continued for as long as operation of the box 36 is desired.

To select the box I8 for operation, the box 36 is moved by the carriage to the left until the finger 22 is released from engagement with the box by the cam surface 93 of the finger 9|. The pin 22 of the carriage is raised and the carriage makes an idle stroke to the right. At this time, the roller 46 is down and the cam 5| is raised. When the carriage has completed its idle stroke to the right, the pin 22 is lowered. The carriage now starts to the left. Since the cam 5| is raised, the pin 22 is permitted to engage the edge 6 of the box I8. The box I8 is propelled to the left and pushes the box 36 to the extreme left. The pin 22 is released from the edge N6 of the box when the pin 22 engages the slope 93 of the cam 9|.

The carriage continues to the left and upon its return to the right, the pin 22 rides up overlthe sloping end I94 of the cam I93, moves over the top of the box 36 and engages the edge I49 of the box I8 to propel it to the right. When the pin 22 engages the slope I8 of the finger I6 the box is released. This operation may continue as long as is desired.

To resume operation with the box 36, the box IE is left in or near the original position of the box 36. The carriage makes an idle stroke to pick up the box 36 putting the box l8 to the extreme right.

What is claimed is: v

1. A yarn feeding mechanism for aknitting machine comprising a block member having a recess therein to be received on the trackway'of a knitting machine, an arm having a yarn feeder on said block, a second block having a recess to be received on the trackway of a knitting machine, an arm having a yarn feeder on said second block, cam means on each of said blocks, and means comprising a friction shoe and a spring on both said first named block and said second named block for frictionally positioning said blocks on a trackway of a knitting machine.

2. In combination in a knitting machine having a trackway for yarn feeding devices and a reciprocable carriage having a finger for engaging and propelling said devices; a pair of cams for raising said finger, each cam being beyond the selected range of travel of said devices, two

pairs of pivoted finger-lifting cams, one pair being positioned adjacent each end of the range of movement of said devices, a pair of blocks constructed to be secured to said trackway, each block carrying one pair of said pivoted fingerlifting cams, each block having means to carry one of said first named cams for actuation, and each of said last named means having a cam follower, said last named cam followers being positioned for engagement with said yarn feeding devices.

3. A multiple yarn feeding mechanism for a knitting machine having a trackway for yarn feeding devices; said mechanism comprising a plurality of yarn feeding devices slidable on said trackway, a cam member beyond one limit of travel of said devices for cooperation with the yarn feeder actuating finger on the reciprocating carriage of said knitting machine, a rock shaft to which said cam is attached, means to bias said rock shaft for rotation in a direction to move said cam from a finger-engaging position, a cam follower extending from said rock shaft, and a cam on each of said yarn feeding devices, said last named cams being positioned for engagement with said cam follower as said devices reciprocate on said trackway.

4. A yarn-feeding mechanism for a knitting ciprocable carriage having a finger for engaging pivoted finger-lifting cams, said block having means to carry said first-named cam for actuation, and said last-named means having a cam follower, said last-named cam follower being positioned for engagement with said yarn feeding device.

6. A multiple yarn feeding mechanism for a knitting machine having a trackway for yarn machine comprising a block member having a recess therein to be received on the trackway of a knitting machine, an arm having a yarn feeder on said block, a second block having a recess to be received on the trackway of a knitting machine, an arm having a yarn feeder on said second block, cam means on each of said blocks, means comprising a friction shoe and a spring on both said first-named block and said second-named block for frictionally positioning said blocks on a trackway of a knitting machine, a block and means for clamping said block to said trackway, said block having a cam follower projecting therefrom in the path of said cam means, and a cam controlled by said cam follower to be moved to a position over said trackway.

5. In combination in a knitting machine having a trackway for a yarn feeding device and a refeeding devices; said mechanism comprising a yarn feeding device slidable on said trackway, a cam member beyond one limit of travel of said device for cooperation with the yarn feeder actuating finger on the reciprocating carriage of said knitting machine, a rock shaft to which said cam is attached, means to bias said rock shaft for rotation in a direction to move said cam from a finger-engaging position, a cam follower extending from said rock shaft, and a cam on said yarn feeding device, said last named cam being positioned for engagement with said cam follower as said device reciprocates on said trackway.

7. A multiple yarn feeding mechanism for a knitting machine having a trackway for yarnfeeding devices; said mechanism comprising a yarn feeding device slidable on said trackway, a cam member beyond one limit of travel of said device for cooperation with the yarn feeder actuating finfeeding devices; said mechanism comprising a yarn feeding device slidable on said trackway, a cam member beyond one limit of travel of said device for cooperation with the yarn feeder actuating finger on the reciprocating carriage of said knitting machine, a rock shaft to which said cam is attached, means to bias said rock shaft for rotation in a direction to move said cam from a finger-engaging position, a cam follower extending from said rock shaft, and a cam surface on said yarn feeding device, said cam surface being positioned for engagement with said cam follower as said device reciprocates on said trackway.

MICHAEL ZIMIC.

ANTON MISKOVSKY.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,982,991 Howie Dec. 4, 1934 2,574,487 Lambach Nov. 13, 1951 

